Ayman Batisha
Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment, Egypt
Title: Desalination industry for sustainability focusing on people, prosperity and environment
Biography
Biography: Ayman Batisha
Abstract
Water desalination is one of the few rainfall-independent water sources. Global dynamics and global warming are creating competing pressures on freshwater finite resources which diminishing dramatically. Competition over water is even more acute in the zones of water stress leading sometimes to serious tensions between different groups of users. Climate change is expected to add to more pressures on water resources in arid and semi arid zones. Water desalination can pave a safe way towards sustainable and peaceful development from every angle: social, economic, political, cultural and ecological. To improve the sustainability of desalination process in Egypt, we believe four ideas should be focused on both of the environmental impacts and water production cost of desalination should be minimized; the robustness and maturity of emerging promising technologies especially for Membrane technology and in its core are solar powered desalination system; reverse osmosis and forward osmosis should be enhanced and energy efficiency of desalination processes and their reliance on renewable energy sources should be maximized. The proposed research is focused on developing environmentally sound technologies; socially acceptable and economically viable of providing fresh water for human use in Egypt. The aim is a better understanding of the environmental impacts of desalination process leading to better mitigation plans through design and operational scenarios. Also, new membranes should have improved properties including higher flux, less fouling potential, lower ecological footprint and improved mechanical integrity. Water desalination can contribute to economic development, political security, poverty alleviation and regional integration.